Vote now on top 20 slogans

Voting opened at 8 a.m. today on the city of Goldsboro's website for the "What's In A Name?" slogan contest and will continue until midnight, Aug. 31.

While the original intent was for the selection committee to whittle down the 915 slogans submitted to 20 for the public to vote on for the top five, a 21st idea was included by combining two other ideas submitted to the contest.

"If that idea is chosen in the top five then we'll double the prize," city public information officer Kim Best said. "If it is chosen overall then we'll have to double that prize."

The ideas were combined because the selection committee thought they would work so well together that they wanted to offer residents the chance to see it.

"We don't want to say which idea it is because we don't want people to like it more or less because of it," she said.

The mottos are listed in no particular order.

Anyone can vote on their favorite motto -- one vote per IP address at www.goldsboronc.gov.

After the top five are chosen, the city marketing team will develop a marketing package for each idea, including possible branding efforts tailored to that idea. The team also will decide on its top three favorite ideas to recommend to City Council in October. The Council will make the final decision from the top five.

"It will be a long process, putting together a package for each one. It might even take till the middle of October," Mrs. Best said.

The top 20 submissions will receive two passes to the Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course, two tickets to a Paramount Theatre movie, a "Do It Downtown" T-shirt and a City of Goldsboro bag.

The top five entrants will receive two rounds of golf with a cart at the Goldsboro golf course, two tickets to an event in the Paramount Theatre Performing Arts Series, a gift card to a downtown restaurant selected by the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. and a Goldsboro restaurant voucher.

The winning selection will receive dinner with Mayor Al King, a one-year membership to the Goldsboro Golf Course, a Paramount Theatre full series package, 100 Downtown Dollars, one free Parks and Registration program registration to an activity of their choice, a one-year membership to the YMCA, a prize package at Lights Up Downtown 2013 and will be featured as a guest on the WGTV morning show.